Re: IVIV: chapter seven—Eel Trovatore

[Joseph Tracy]

On Sep 23, 2009, at 1:13 PM, Ray Easton wrote:

> Robin Landseadel wrote:
>> What appalls me about these critics is that they are placing  
>> themselves above the author
>
> Any new work by a great writer deserves serious and thoughtful  
> consideration.  A "good reader" should strive to understand the  
> work on its own terms, rather than immediately rejecting it because  
> he cannot "connect to" or comprehend it.  A "good reader" should  
> indeed suspend judgment, but does not mean that he should simply  
> abandon judgment altogether.  If it's a bad thing to place oneself  
> above the author, it is equally certain that it's a bad thing to  
> place oneself below the author, and is a sort of idolatry that  
> seems particularly inappropriate when applied to a writer with  
> TRP's (apparent) views.
>
> Ray
> /
> /
I agree that idolatry is inappropriate but if an author has gained a  
reader's respect and if the critical and popular response and  
understanding has frequently lagged behind the publication of the  
work, then a bit more care is in order.  As Picasso or some smartass  
said, the good art judges us. I do agree with Robin that placing  
yourself as a book critic above Pynchon is careless and often  
appalling. It reminds me of young music critics writing about Dylan  
as though he needed their approval and they have a few good pointers  
for him. It just sounds stupid.

By the way, back to the Eel Travatore,  I just read a chapter on  
detoxification in a book called Diet for a Poisoned Planet.  The  
author grew up fishing and eating fish off Santa Monica until he read  
a study in the 80s showing LA fish eaters had highly elevated levels  
of DDT and PCB's in their blood. The author had himself tested and  
was in the same boat . So the waitress Chlorinda was offering a sound  
warning that informed L.A. readers may take more literally than  
metaphorically. ( Detox involves  niacin, utraviolet and sauna which  
the globe is abou to try)

I  think Pynchon is exploring the collective tribal roots of the  
ecological assault on the planet. What draws people into these nasty  
arrangements?, where will resistance come from?
Modern  Tribes-    cops
				military
				stewardii and Jet Setters
				surfers ( I would extend this to climbers, hikers, sailors,  
kayakers, environmentalists)
				stoners ( which concludes the 3 s es)
				dentists( god knows what this stands for but extreme  
interrogation comes to mind)
				musicians
				realtors
				insurance and banking
				bikers and thugs for hire
				spies and agents
				lawyers
On board were the 12: cops and stewardii, stoners bankers and  
realtors. They were the Gods of yore though Gods they were...
Way down, way doooooown Below the Ocean, Where I want to be and she  
made me.